A guide to the Six-Food Elimination Diet (SFED) for diagnosing and managing EoE symptoms.
Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EoE) is a chronic immune-mediated disease where eosinophils (a type of white blood cell) accumulate in the esophagus. This causes inflammation, difficulty swallowing, chest pain, food impaction, and feeding difficulties in children.
It is often triggered by certain food allergens. An elimination diet helps identify these triggers and reduce inflammation without relying solely on medication.
The most common approach is the Six-Food Elimination Diet (SFED), which removes the six most common food allergens for 6–8 weeks. These include:
Over 90% of food triggers in EoE are found within these six groups. After the elimination period, foods are reintroduced one at a time under medical guidance to identify the culprit(s).
| Meal | Example | Simple Recipe |
|---|---|---|
| Breakfast | Oatmeal with fruit |
- ½ cup rolled oats (gluten-free) - Cooked in oat milk or rice milk - Add chopped banana or blueberries - Sprinkle with cinnamon |
| Snack | Rice cakes with avocado |
- 2 plain rice cakes - ½ avocado mashed with lemon juice - Salt and pepper to taste |
| Lunch | Turkey and rice bowl |
- 3 oz cooked ground turkey - ½ cup cooked white rice - Steamed zucchini and carrots - Olive oil drizzle |
| Snack | Fruit smoothie |
- ½ banana - ½ cup frozen mango - 1 cup rice milk - Blend until smooth |
| Dinner | Baked chicken with roasted sweet potatoes |
- 4 oz skinless chicken breast baked with rosemary - ½ cup roasted sweet potatoes - ½ cup sautéed spinach in olive oil |
The elimination diet should always be supervised by a gastroenterologist and dietitian. Endoscopic evaluation is typically done before and after the elimination phase to assess inflammation and guide food reintroduction.
This guide is for educational purposes only and does not replace medical advice. Always consult your provider and registered dietitian before starting an elimination diet.